Patient support surface using radar
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing patient support surfaces, such as mattresses and pads, often fail to accurately detect patient immersion across the entire body, leading to increased risk of bottoming out and pressure ulcers, particularly due to the limitations of prior art immersion sensors that primarily focus on the seat region and introduce manufacturing complexities and expenses.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a radio detection and ranging (RADAR) apparatus within patient support systems to detect patient immersion by emitting pulses and determining the time-of-flight of reflected signals, allowing for precise measurement of immersion depth across various body regions and adjusting inflation accordingly to maintain optimal interface pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If prior art immersion sensors using conductive components are used, then immersion detection is possible, but the interface pressure performance of the mattress degrades in the area of the conductive material
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conductive components with a radar-based detection system that uses electromagnetic waves to measure patient immersion. The radar antenna emits waves that reflect off the patient's body, and the time-of-flight measurement provides immersion depth without requiring physical contact or conductive materials that would degrade mattress performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediate measurement approach by using radar wave reflection rather than direct conductive contact. The electromagnetic waves serve as an intermediary that can penetrate the mattress structure and detect patient immersion without the mattress materials interfering with the measurement or being degraded by the presence of conductive layers.
2Ease of manufacture
If immersion sensors are located only in the seat region, then manufacturing is simplified, but detection coverage is limited and bottoming out risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a multi-functional radar system that can detect immersion across multiple body regions simultaneously. The radar antenna system is designed to monitor not only the seat region but also the head, shoulder blades, and heels, providing comprehensive patient support and preventing bottoming out in any region through a single integrated detection system.
3Measurement precision
If sensors are placed inside air bladders, then immersion detection is achieved, but manufacturing complexity and expense increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the radar antenna from the internal mattress structure and positions it externally, eliminating the need to integrate sensors within air bladders. This external placement simplifies mattress manufacturing while maintaining accurate immersion detection capabilities through the radar system's ability to penetrate and measure through the mattress structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively reduces the risk of pressure ulcers by ensuring consistent and optimal patient support across the entire body, improving clinical workflow, and reducing manufacturing complexities and costs by providing accurate immersion detection without the need for conductive components that degrade interface pressure.
Implementation Method 1
a radio detection and ranging (RADAR) apparatus may be configured and may be operated to detect an object at a range of about 2 centimeters or less
Implementation Method 2
processor circuitry that may be configured to determine a time-of-flight (TOF) between transmission of the pulse and receipt by the at least one RADAR antenna of a reflected signal
Implementation Method 3
receive a pulse that may have a profile that supports detection of the object at the range of about 2 centimeters
Data Source
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AI summary
A patient immersion sensor includes a radio detection and ranging, RADAR, apparatus (12,20,22,24) to determine a time of flight, TOF, of a RADAR pulse (14) and a reflected signal (18) that is reflected by a patient (16) or by a portion of a patient support surface (16) supporting the patient. The TOF is indicative of an immersion depth or a distance toward bottoming out of a patient supported on the patient support surface, such as a mattress or a pad. The RADAR apparatus emits pulses of very short duration so as to be able to detect objects, such as a patient or a portion of a mattress or pad, at very close distances. The RADAR apparatus may use TOF between transmission of the pulse and receipt of a reflected signal to determine a distance toward bottoming out by the patient, thereby to determine if the patient is properly immersed into the patient support surface. Adjustments to inflation or deflation of one or more bladders are made to achieve a desired immersion amount within a tolerance range between upper and lower TOF thresholds.